The chronology of our weekend:

Arrival at hotel, Friday February 26th:

Complimentary champagne sent up from the hotel’s concierge, Ann. She was so great in helping Brent plan our weekend and what better way to start it than with some bubbly and Godiva chocolates?

Get ready for 8pm "appointment" aka dinner:

My friend Melissa gave me a beautiful pallet of eye shadow by Kat Von D. While I was hoping to use it in NYC I definitely had fun playing with it on our more chill weekend and I must say, it helped escalate me to be the most fashionably dressed at the resort in small town Bastrop!

Dinner at Stories Restaurant in the Resort:

L*3 is now 33! Craziness. Clearly, this guy still loves me.

His and her's grey goose martinis: the most New York City-like thing in Bastrop at 1/4 the price!

Endive salad that I was told is generally more beautiful with the bacon dressing but I opted for their lemon vinaigrette.

Texas local mushrooms with tarragon, the most flavorful and my favorite part of the meal.

Brent's braised veal check with creamy mashed potatoes.

My Lockhart quail with light salad and pine nut puree.

After dinner dip in the hot tub:

Long hall: just kinda scary and wanted to share. The hotel also had these creepy old photos all in the halls and stuff; it was interesting.

Brent and I chillin and sippin champagne in the hot tub.

Getting to the hot tub was a bit of an adventure. It was about 9:30 at night, we were in our swimsuits and robes, and I was hiding our champagne glasses up my sleeve because I didn't want the hotel staff to know we were taking glass to the hot tub (even though Brent was carrying the huge bucket of champagne, whateva). We finally found the spot and met a truly delightful family!Callum and Torrin were these two young kids that were just adorable and polite and funny! Their family lives in Waco but just recently moved from Scotland. Torrin kept saying "Tough Scotts!" in his delightful little accent and I just wanted to pinch his cheeks! Their parents, who's names I ashamedly can't remember, talked to us for a bit and they were the kind of family that you just wanted to sit down to dinner with because they were smart and funny. Torrin, who I think was about 6, at one point scooted over and sat on Brent's knee. Brent has no idea what to do with kids and is moderately terrified of them so I was cracking up! We ran into the family later the next day and Torrin also hugged both of us, again, Brent once again was terrified. I love watching him freeze up like that and kids are just drawn to him; it's quite entertaining.

It was a great night and a wonderful start to our weekend!

Birthday Breakfast Buffet:

cheese grits, potatoes, apple pastry, and fresh pineapple.

Delicious salsas with fresh cilantro. What a beautiful presenation!

Jalapeno, tomato, cilantro omlette from the omlette station.

Activities!

Bike riding by the Colorado river. It was the perfect day for it!

Me and my bike for the day, Olive Jr.

Tennis set up waiting for us at the courts: rackets, balls, water. Nice

Lovely tree needing it's picture taken.

Night falling.. time for Birthday dinner #2.

Dinner in downtown Bastrop at Baxter's:

My shoes, sometimes I gotta give love to my shoes too.

Betsey Johnson's: satiny and sexy.

Reasonably priced at $26 a bottle of The Show from Napa, CA.

Bread. I didn't eat any but it looked good.

Chicken empanadas, delicate pastry and perfectly prepared.

My spaghetti and meatballs. I lifted the ban on local meats for the night and it was worth it! This was delicious with serrano peppers and italian sausage.

Somehow the picture of Brent's steak didn't make it. Listen people, it was good! Perfectly, seriously, perfectly cooked medium rare all the way through! They give Eddie V's a run for their money! I'll make a special trip back to Bastrop for dinner again, no doubt!

Kimberly was our gracious server. One of the nicest people I think I've ever met. Thanks for the great evening, Kim!

After dinner event, star gazing:

The resort has a deal with the LCRA because it was built on a preserve (I think). Anyways, two LCRA employees came over and lead a star gazing expedition. There were two huge telescopes and they talked us through the constellations and I got to see the moon and it's craters (super cool), mars, and some star "sisters". It was educational, serene, and splendid.

Final day concluding with a 2 hour spa treatment:

This was my view from our balcony. This place was beautiful and peaceful.

Brent made me promise not to post this picture. I guess I lied. He also taught me to ask for forgiveness not for permission so, I'm sorry my love!

Does life get any better? Yes, massages...

The weekend ended with a body wrap and massages at the spa. What a great and unforgettable weekend. Not New York for sure but anywhere I'm with Mr Lane is good with me (sappy but true).

“We must take adventures in order to know where we truly belong.” —Anonymous